Fitting-band for hats, caps, &amp;c.



B. REICHABD. HTTING BAND FOR HATS, CAPS, 5L0.

APPLI'CATION FILED NOV- 24, 1915.

1 1 87,096. I Patented June 13, 1916.

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BENJAMIN REICHARD, OF NEW-YORK, N. Y.

FITTING-BAND FOR HATS, GAPS, 8w.

Specification of Letters Patent.

PatentedJune 13, 1916.

Application filed November 24, 1915. Serial No. 63,151.

hat body, that will adapt itself accurately to the individual shape ofthe cranium of the wearer, compensating for irregularities of size, affording also a soft comfortable yieldable yet stable contact with the head, and also acting as an absorbent pad and protector for the'hat body and its external band, all as hereinafter more fully set forth.

The present invention is an improvement upon the filling or fitting band set forth in my concurrent application Serial No. 17,633, filed March 29, 1915, and consists primarily in reinforcing the fibrous strip'both trans versely and longitudinally by means of stitching constituting flexible but strong and tenacious compaginate ligature by which the integrity of the filling is insured and main tained during manipulation and use; and

secondarily in providing the filling band.

with a specific form of staple-barb whereby the maintenance of the filler in the prescribed position between the sweat band and hat body is positively assured, all as hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an isometrical view of my improved filling band bent into a circle, with its prong side innermost, to show its flexibility. Fig. 2, a transverse section of a hat showing the relation of the fitting band thereto; Fig. 3, a view of the outer side of band extended and partly broken away; Fig. 4, a similar view of the inner side of the band; Fig. 5, a detail of one of the staple-barbs; Fig. 6, a sectional detail illustrating the application of the staple-barb to the fitter strip.

My fitting band b, consists preferably of a strip of so called felt-paper although it may be made of equivalent soft tenacious flexible absorbent fibrous material. strips may be made of various or average lengths, and may be readily clipped at the These ends if necessary to fit accurately, end to end, between the sweat band and they hat body, extending completely around the inner circumference of the latter and shielding it from direct contact with the sweat band along the zone of contact with the head of the wearer so as to interpose between-the hat body and the head of the wearer a soft absorbent circumferential cushion which not only insures a close, safe and comfortable fit, but also, by reason of its absorbent qualities, prevents the transmission of moisture from the sweat band .9, to the hat body it,

and ribbon e.

I am aware that heretofore size reducers have been provided for hats and caps consisting of strips of metal, ratan or other hard, nonabsorbent longitudinally elastic material for insertion between the hat body and the sweat band,the metallic fillers being formed with barbs which dig into the side of the hat .body, while the others are covered with a woven fabric; but these devices are not the equivalent of my soft, fibrous, nonresilient absorbent cushion bands, for vari ous reasons. Their rigidity prevents their conforming accurately to the shape of the cranium; they are hard and uncomfortable,1n reallty each creating a rigid ridge in the head gear to which it is applied which is not conducive to either the comfort or convenience of the. wearer. Furthermore the metallic bands rust, and they do not protect either the head or the hat against the deleterious effects or the discomfort of perspiration. Practically the same objections exist against all forms of rigid reducers which leave their-imprint upon the forehead of the wearer, and are particularly unadaptable and objectionable for use in soft hats or caps. All these practical objections to the old form of reducers are overcome by my invention, which contemplates'the use of my device not only as a size reducer, but also as a fitting that will render the hat or cap to which it is applied more comfortable, and also, by affording a close fit, holding the hat or cap more firmly in place upon the head. It is a fact Well known to hatters who use the usual testing and shaping devices that the craniums of customers are never bilaterally symmetrical, and my circumferential fitting cushion is especially adapted to remedy this universal defect in so far at least as head gear is concerned.

The material best adapted to the manufiling of my concurrent application hereinbefore referred to, that a strip of felt paper lacks the requisite strength and tenacity to withstand the requirements of manipulation and use, although being otherwise an ideal material for the manufacture of a filler of the character herein designated. Hence the main object of my present invention is to overcome this difficulty, which I have found by experimentation best attained by reinforcing the band-strip b, longitudinally by one or more lines of stitching r, preferably two lines thereof, as shown in the drawings, a line adjacent to each edge of the strip. The stitch threads constitute flexible tenacious compaginate ligatures which effectually bind and reinforce the fibrous material against both lateral and longitudinal strain, so that the band cannot be torn across transversely nor pulled asunder by, lengthwise strain. In fact it is this method of reinforcement which has made my filler band a practical, commercial success, as has been demonstrated since the filing of my concurrent application hereinbefore referred to. The stitching practically transforms the strip of weak fibrous felt-paper or equivalent into a strong tenacious band without materially impairing its softness, flexibility or absorbability.

Another feature of my present invention consists in forming my felt-paper band with staple-bars whereby the band 6, may be effectually attached to the hat body it, and its position thereon assured, as I have found that where the band h, is gummed or stuck to the hat body it, the adhesive is apt to yield during use, especially if the band is subjected to and absorbs sweat moisture.

,Hence for this purpose I make the band with a series of longitudinally arranged U- shaped staples a, driven through the band from the inner side thereof. One barb u, of each staple u, is bent over against the outer surface of the band to clench and secure the staple in position, while the other barb a remains projecting outward slightly beyond the outer surface of the band, so that it may be made to protrude into the opposed inner surface of the hat body lb, when the band is positioned between the latter and the sweat band 8, as shown in Fig. 2, in which view 6, represents the usual exterior hat band or ribbon. Although the barbs a", project but slightly beyond the filler band 6, their protrusion is sufficient to effectually anchor the band in position on the hat body, and the absorption of moisture by the filler band will not affect such means of attachment. The barbs projecting but slightly, may be engaged in the hat body or the sweatband, by merely turning the filler band with the required side outermost.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,

As an article of manufacture, a filling band for hats and caps composed of a strip of soft, flexible, absorbent fibrous material reinforced longitudinally by lines of stitching, and fastening bars projecting from one side of said band for securing it in position.

BENJAMIN REIOHARD.

Witnesses:

DOROTHY MIATT, GEO. M. MIATT.

Copies of this patent may he obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I 0. 

